'Safeguarding Gulf's Interconnected Digital Economy Requires Synchronised Action'

DOHA: Qatar took part in the fifth meeting of the GCC Ministerial Committee for Cybersecurity as high-level defence officials convened in Manama yesterday.

Addressing the gathering, officials underscored that safeguarding the Gulf's interconnected digital economy requires synchronised regional action rather than isolated defence models.

The regional assembly sought to unify digital defences and streamline threat mitigation across the Arabian Gulf amidst escalating regional tensions and an evolving cyber threat landscape. Qatar was represented by a delegation led by the President of the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA), Eng. Abdulrahman bin Ali Al Farahid Al Malki.

A primary outcome of the session was the committee's formal adoption of joint GCC cybersecurity frameworks. These standardised regulatory mechanisms are designed to harmonise defence protocols, accelerate cross-border intelligence sharing, and establish a cohesive operational baseline across all member nations.

To test these defences under realistic conditions, delegates authorised the execution of the upcoming 6th and 7th Gulf Cyber Drills. These simulated stress tests will evaluate rapid-response capabilities and inter-agency coordination against multi-vector cyberattacks targeting critical national infrastructure.

The committee reviewed the executive implementation plan of the GCC Cybersecurity Strategy, assessing progress made on regional policy initiatives and capacity-building efforts. Discussions focused heavily on evaluating extraordinary operational measures implemented across member states to fortify sovereign networks, power grids, and digital communication networks.

MENAFN28082026000063011010ID1111591144